Means for making seamless metallic containers by electrodeposition



MEANS FOR MAKING SEAMLESS METALLIC CONTAINERS BY ELECTRQDEPOSITION 4 SheetsShet 1 Filed Jan. '7, 1937,

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MEANS FOR MAKING SEAMLESS METALLIC CONTAINERS BY ELEGTRODEPOSITION Filed Jan. 7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG I? //VVE/\/ 70/? AYL ME/Z 0. 9056', f

Sept. 6, 1938. A. o. ROSS 2,129,479

MEANS FOR MAKING SEAMLESS METALLIC CONTAINERS BY ELECTRODEPOSITION Filed Jan. '7, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 MEANS FOR MAKING SEAMLESS METALLIC CONTAINERS BY ELECTRODEPOSITION Sept. 6, 1938.

Filed Jan. 7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AYL MEI? 0. Ross,

Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Aylmer 0. Ross, Conshohocken, Pa., assignor to Maro Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 7,

5 Claims.

My invention is particularly applicable for the production of containers for hot water under pressure, of the type known to the trade as range boilers. Such a container has a body formed of a cylindrical shell with an outwardly convex head at its upper end and an inwardly convex head at its lower end and screw threaded openlugs for conduit connections respectively located axially in each head and also screw threaded openings for conduits in the circumference of said shell.

As hereinafter described, such seamless containers are produced by electrodeposition of cop--' per upon mold forms while they are continually rotated upon horizontal axes in a tank in which they are submerged in an electrolyte including an aqueous solution of sulphate of copper containing foraminous receptacles for scrap copper. Said molds are included as cathodes in a direct current electric circuit which includes said solution and scrap copper anodes with the effect of dissolving the latter in said solution and depositing copper from said solution upon said molds.

Said electrolyte is conveniently circulated by pump means from a subjacent sump tank through elevated filters from which it gravitates into tanks in which the electrodeposition is effected and overflows into conduits through which it is returned to said sump tank.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction, arrangement, and method of operation hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings, Fig. I is a plan view of apparatus conveniently adapted for the purpose of my invention.

Fig. II is a plan view of a truck having supporting wheels upon which it may be manually propelled with respect to the apparatus shown in Fig. I. Said truck is provided with a series of rollers at its top to facilitate movement of the mold longitudinally with respect to the truck.

Fig. III is a plan view of a truck which is similarly supported to be manually propelled, but provided with pairs of rollers atits top adapted to support a mold or tank between them to facilitate manual rotation of a mold or tank thereon.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary elevation of part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, including the elevated filters and the tanks in which they are contained, and indicating the subjacent sump tank, and including a fragmentary section of the apparatus taken on the line IV, IV, in Fig. I, in the direction of the arrows on said line.

Fig. V is a fragmentary vertical sectional view I 1937, Serial No. 119,494

taken on the line V, V, in Fig. IV and showing the internal construction of one of the filter units and its tank, and conduit connections there with.

Fig. VI is a fragmentary sectional View of the apparatus shown in Fig. I, taken on the line VI, VI, in the direction of the arrows on said line, showing a mold for the body of a tank and means for axially supporting and rotating it.

Fig. VII is a sectional view, taken on the line VII, VIII, in Fig. I, showing molds for the bottom heads of the tanks and means for rotating them.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the mold shown in Fig. VI and its axial supports, and with the initial deposit of copper on said mold to form the body shell of a tank.

Fig. IX is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of said body shell with a bottom head, preformed by a deposit upon one of the molds shown in Fig. VII, inserted in said shell and with axially extending means for rigidly connecting said shell and head for rotation during the electrodeposition of an outer layer of copper in integral relation with said shell; said outer layer being indicated by dot and dash lines in said figure.

Fig. X is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a tank completed in accordance with my in-,

vention,

Fig. XI is a fragmentary elevation of one of the shaft driving units, including worm gearing and a clutch, as seen from the left of Fig.

receptacle 6 in which chemical constituents-of the electrolyte may be initially deposited to be dissolved in the electrolyte. Said tank contains the coil of pipe 8 through which a temperature controlling fluid may be circulated; for instance, cold water or steam. Cold water may be introduced through the pipe 9 under control of the valve l0, indicated in Figs. I and IV, and steam may be introduced through the pipe H under control of the valve H, as indicated in said figures. The temperature controlling fluid may be discharged from said coil at its upper end outlet 14, shown in Fig. IV. The electrolyte l or other liquid contained in said tank 2 may be elevated throughv the intake pipe l6, indicated in Figs. I and IV, which is connected as shown in Fig. I, with the pump operated by the electric motor 8.

Said pump discharges the electrolyte from the tank 2 through the pipe |9, shown in Figs. I and IV, provided with branches 20 overhanging four unit filter receptacles 2|. Each of said receptacles 2| contains,a filtering medium, conveniently a layer of woolen cloth 22 supported by a grill 23, which forms the bottom of each receptacle 2|. As shown in Figs. I and V, the perforated box 24, which rests on the filter cloth 22, receives, and distributes, the streams of electrolyte from said branches 20. I find it convenient to make the portion 20 of said conduit 20 of flexible rubber tubing so that said boxes 24 may be lifted aside to permit insertion and removal of said filtering mediums.

The electrolyte gravitates through said filter units in the receptacles 2| into the subjacent tank 25 which is mounted upon the base 26, as shown in Fig. IV, so as to be elevated a desired distance above the floor 3, as indicated in Fig. IV. As indicated in Fig. V, said tank 25 is formed of wood, but has a sheet lead lining 25. As indicated in Figs. I; IV, and V, the operator's platform '21 is supported, by the frame 28, adjoining said tank 25, and is accessible by the two flights of steps 28 and 30 extending to said floor 3.

Said tank 25 is thus supplied with electrolyte preferably an aqueous solution of copper sulphate maintained at from 20 to 22 Baum, from which solid impurities, for instance, dross from scrap copper dissolved therein, have been removed by its passage through said filter units.

The electrolyte I may be permitted to gravitate from said tank 25 through either or both of the two pipes 32 and 32' which are controlled by respective plug valves 33 and 33', shown in Figs. I and IV, valve 33 being also shown in Fig. V. Said plug valves may be independently manually lifted to open said pipes 32 and 32' by means of the respective handles 34 and 34 which extend above the level of the electrolyte in the tank 25 and may be reached from said platform 21. As shown in Fig. I, said pipes 32 and 32' respectively lead to axially alined but separate pipes 35 and 35 which overhang respective tanks 36 and 36', which are supported in spaced relation with said floor 3 by a series of girders 38, as shown in Figs. IV and VI. As indicated in the fragmentary section of the lower portion of Fig. IV, said tanks 36 and 36' are divided in series of similar compartments by vertical partitions 39. Each of said compartments has a separate lining of sheet lead, as indicated at 40 in- Figs. IV and VI. I have found it convenient to form said tanks of wood, as indicated, but, of course, they may be made of any suitable material.

As shown in Fig. I, each compartment of said tanks 36 and 36' is supplied with electrolyte through two branches, 42 and 43 from its respective supply pipe 35 or 35', of which a portion is a flexible rubber tube to facilitate manipulation thereof. As shown in Fig. I, each supply pipe 42 leads into a perforated sheet lead basket 45, each of which is of inverted U shape, and straddles a mold driving shaft. As indicated in Fig. VI, each of said baskets 45 has a muslin lining 45' to prevent escape of any copper scrap through the perforations. As indicated in Fig. I and better shown in Fig. IV, each pipe 43 leads through branches 46 into respective rectangular perforated sheet lead baskets 48; there being a series of four of the latter upon each of the opposite sides of each compartment in said tanks 36 and 36'. Each of said baskets 45 and 48 holds a mass of scraps of copper to be dissolved by the electrolye and, in order to insure eflicient circulation of the electrolyte with respect to said scraps, I extend the pipes 46 to the bottom of their respective baskets 48, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. VI. The electrolyte normally overflows from each of the compartments in said tanks 36 and 36' through respective pipes 5|) and 50'. However, the lower ends of said pipes form tapered plugs, as indicated in, Fig. IV, and they may be lifted to entirely drain said tanks.

Although in Fig. IV pipes 50 are indicated as broken off a short distance above the bottom of the linings 40 to avoid confusion with the outlines of the baskets 45; in fact the upper ends of all of the pipes 50 and 50' terminate just belowthe top of the baskets 45 and 48, as indicated at 50 in Fig. VI, so that said baskets are almost entirely submerged in the electrolyte during the operation of electrodeposition herein contemplated. As shown in Fig. I, said overflow pipes 5|) are branches of the main drain pipe 5| which, as shown in Fig. I, extends beneath both of said tanks 36 and 36' and downwardly into said tank 2, as indicated in Fig. IV. As indicated in Fig. I, the overflow pipes 50' from the compartments of the tank 36 are also branches of said drain pipe 5|, so that the electrolyte overflowing from all of the compartments in both of said tanks 36 and 36 gravitates back into said sump tank 2 from which it may be repeatedly recirculated by said pump |'I during the continuance of the electrodeposition.

As shown in Fig. I, each of the six compartments in the tank 36 contains a mold form 53 upon which the container shell is to be electrodeposited. Each of said forms is tapered, so slightly as not to be perceptible in the drawings, but sufficient to permit the mold to be withdrawn axially from the shell 54 deposited thereon, as indicated in Fig. VIII. As shown in Fig. VI, and indicated in Fig. I, each of said mold forms is mounted for rotation upon its axis by respective connection of its opposite ends with axially alined shafts 55 and 56. Each shaft 55 is journaled in two bearings 55 supported by frame members 51 in rigid relation with the side walls of said tanks 36 and 36'. Each shaft 56 is similarly journaled in bearings 56'-supported by frame mem bers 58 in rigid relation with the side walls of said tanks 36 and 36. Said shafts 55 and 56 extend through respective stufling boxes 58 and 60 mounted'in the opposite side walls of said tanks and which permit rotation of said shafts with respect to said walls without escape of the electrolyte from the tanks.

Each of said shafts 55 has, rigidly connected therewith, a worm gear 6|, as indicated in Fig. VI, which prevents its .axlal movement. -However, each of said shafts 56 is axially movable manually, as hereinafter described. Said gears 6| are respectively engaged with individual worms 62 carried by the shaft 63, as shown in Fig. VI.

Each of said worms is loosely mounted on said shaft 63 but has at one end crown clutch projections 62 adapted to be engaged by similar projections on a clutch sleeve 64 which is slidable axially upon said shaft 63 but connected with the latter by a spline, so that when its clutch members are engaged,- each of said worms 62 is turned by said shaft 63 to drive its respective gear 6i. Each of said clutch sleeves is adapted to be manually operated by means of levers 65 fulcrumed at 68. Each of said levers 65 carries a slide bolt 61 for engagement with a ratchet 68 to hold said lever in either position of engagement or disengagement of the clutch in which it may be set by the operator.

As shown in Fig. I, said shaft 63 is provided with the gear 89 in mesh with the gear III on the armature shaft of the electric motor II by which said shaft 83 is driven continuously during the electrodeposition.

As shown at the left in Fig. I and Fig. VII, said shaft 83 is continued alongside of the tank 13 wherein mold forms I4 are detachably mounted for rotation during electrodeposition thereon of the container heads I5 shown in Figs. IX and X. The similar shaft 63 extends parallel with said shaft 63, upon the opposite side of said tank I3, and is connected so as to be turned simultaneously therewith, by the bevel gears '16 and countershaft I1, shown at the left in Fig. I. Said tank I3 is lined with sheet lead, as indicated at I3 in Fig. VII, and has two longitudinally extending series of said molds 14, each including six, as indicated in Fig. I. Each of said molds I4 is detachably connected with a shaft 88 by which it may be rotated, and provided with appurtenances as hereinafter described, whereby said heads'15 are provided with screw threaded conduit fittings 15' indicated in Figs. IX and X. The connection of each of said mold forms 14 with its shaft 88 is made by screw threaded engagement of said mold as a nut upon the threaded end 88 of its shaft. Each of said shafts 88 extends through a stufling box 8I in the side wall of the tank 13 and is journaled in two bearings 82 supported by frame members 83 in rigid relation with theside walls of said tank 13. Each of said shafts 88 has, rigidly connected therewith, a worm gear 84, as indicated in Fig. VII. Said gears 84 are respectively engaged with individual worms 85 carried by said shafts 63 and 63', and provided with coupling means, as shown in Fig. XI.

The construction and arrangement above described are such that each of the shafts adapted for turning the mold forms 53 and I4 may be simultaneously rotated during electrodeposition on said molds, by the single electric motor II shown in Fig. I, or, at the will of the operator, any one of said moldshafts may be rendered idle by disconnection of its clutch exemplifiedin Fig. XI.

As indicated in Figs. I and VII, the left hand end of said pipe 35 through which electrolyte is supplied is flexibly connected by rubber hose 81 with a pipe 88 having branches including flexible rubber hose sections 89 through which electrolyte is supplied to the interior of the perforated sheet lead baskets 98, muslin linings 98', and are like the baskets 48, but disposed in pairs; the contiguous back walls of each pair being fused together, as indicated at 9I in Fig. VII. As indicated in the left hand basket 98 in Fig. VII, each pipe 88 extends to the bottom of its basket, like the pipes 46 in the baskets 48. Likewise, said baskets 98 holds scraps of copper which are dissolved in the electrolyte I during the electrodeposition.

As shown in Figs. -1 and VII, said tank I3 is provided with the pipe 92, extending nearly to the top thereof, through which the electrolyte overflows into said main drain pipe 5i, as indi- All of said molds 53. and 14 are cathodes in a direct current electric circuit which includes said electrolyte I and the anodes comprising the scrap copper in the lead baskets 45, 48, and 98, with the efiect of dissolving said copper in said electrolyte and depositing copper from said electrolyte upon said molds. As shown in Fig. I, said circuit comprises the positive conductor 94 and the negative conductor 95 connected with the electric generator 96 which is arranged to be rotated by the electric motor 91, controllable by switch means 91'. Said motor also rotates the generator exciter 98.

Said conductor 94, which is preferably an insulated cable, is connected with the bus-bar 99 which is rigidly attached to the right hand end wall of said tank 36' and extends along the side walls of said tank 36' and the tank 36 and along the left hand end wall of the latter tank, as indicated in Figs. I and VI. Said bus-bar 99 has a series of branch conductors 99' connected therewith respectively extending along the top of the partitions between the compartments in said tanks 36 and 36 and having flexible conductor branches I88 each having a rod terminal I8I extending in electrical connection with the lead baskets 48 and their scrap copper contents, as indicated in Fig. VI. Each of said positive conductors 99' also has a flexible conductor branch I82 at its distal end with a rod terminal I83 extending in electrical connection with the local lead basket 45 and its scrap copper contents, as indicated in Fig. VI.

As shown in Figs. I and VII, said positive busbar 99 has the branch I84 extending over the top of the tank 13 with individual conductor branches I04, each having a terminal rod I 84" extending in a basket 98, in electrical connection with such basket and its scrap copper contents.

Said conductor 95, which is preferably an insulated cable, is connected with the bus-bar I85 which is rigidly secured to the timber frame member 51 in the position shown in Fig. VI.

and, as shown in Figs. I and VII, said bus-bar I85 extends around the tank 13 in rigid connection with the timber frame 83. .As shown in Figs. I and VI, each of the shafts 55 and 88, by which said molds 53 and I4 are supported and rotated as above described, is-electrically connected with said bus-bar I85 by individual flexible conductors I86 and collars I81, which latter havelairubbing fit on said shafts.

cidental displacement of said collars I81. Each of said molds 53 and I4 is thus connected with said negative conductor 95 and constituted a cathode in the electric circuit energized by said generator 95.

The apparatus above described is designed to make containers having an internal diameter of eleven and sixty-three-sixty-fourths of an inch at the smaller end and twelve inches at the larger end, and one-sixteenth of an inch thick.

Collars me are respectively rigidly connected with said shafts to prevent accumferential speed slightly in excess of onefifth of a foot per second.

As shown in Fig. VIII, the shaft 55 by which the mold 53 is rotated, as above described, is detachably connected with said mold by the axial screw stud 53' which is rigidly connected with said mold 53 and detachably connected with a screw threaded socket in said shaft 55. Said shaft 55 is provided with an insulating covering comprising a hard rubber tube I09, washer H0, and thin soft rubber tube III, the end of which overlaps and engages the perimeter of said washer, as shown in Fig. VIII. Said washer H is backed by the metal collar H2 screwed as a nut on said axial screw stud 53'. Said stud 53' also carries the screw threaded conduit fitting H3 held in coaxial relation therewith by the screw threaded metal collar H4 on said stud and clamped against axial movement and rotation by the detachable screw threaded engagement of said stud 53' with said shaft 55 in the position shown in Fig. VIII; so that the deposit of copper from the electrolyte I forms the cylindrical shell 54 closed at the left hand end in concavo convex form 54', as shown in Fig. VIII, and in unitary relation with said fitting H3.

Said mold form 53 being designed for electrodeposition of container shells for use as what are known to the trade as range boilers, to wit, tanks to be connected with means for heating water to be stored therein, it is desirable to provide the circumferential surface of said shell 54 with two additional screw threaded conduit connections, as respectively indicated at H5, H5, in Figs. I and VIII. That may be conveniently effected by providing saidmold form with screw threaded holes to receive respective tap bolts H6 carrying screw threaded washers III which engage said fittings H3 in .coaxial'relation with said bolts, and said fittings are rigidly held upon said mold 53 by respective insulating washers H8, which may be hard rubber or Bakelite, detachably but tightly held by respective screws H9 in axial engagement with said tap bolts H6. Said container end shell 54' may also be provided with a scew threaded conduit fitting I in eccentric relation with the axis of said shell, by providing the closed end of said mold 53 with the screw threaded hole I22 for engagement with the tap bolt I23 which carries the screw threaded washer I24 in coaxial engagement with said fitting I20; the latter being detachably rigidly held on said mold 53 by the insulating washer I25 secured by the screw I26 in coaxial engagement with said tap bolt I23.

All of the mold forms 53 and 14 are preferably made of stainless steel having highly polished exterior surfaces upon which the electrodeposition is to be effected.

As shown in Fig. VIII, said mold form 53 is connected with said shaft 56 by the screw stud I29 which is rigidly mounted in the hub I30 connected by spokes I3I with the perimetral ring I32 which is rigidly connected with said form, conveniently by a metal welded fillet I33, as indicated in said figure. Said shaft 56 is preferably formed of insulating material such as Bakelite or vulcanized fiber having a screw threaded socket engaged as a nut with said screw stud. The interior surface of said mold form 53 is insulated by a coating of wax or varnish so as to avoid" any electrodeposition thereon, and the right hand end of said mold 53 is protected from electrodeposition by the ring I34 preferably formed of slightly resilient rubber which is push fitted on said mold to the position shown and there remains during the electrodeposition of the shell 54 on said mold, to the thickness shown in Fig. VIII; so that the right hand open end of said shell has a finished surface determined by the configuration of the outer cylindrical recessed surface of said mold form 53. Thereupon, the rotation of the completed shell 54 and its mold 53 is stopped by shifting the respective clutch lever 65, and the mold 53 carrying said shell 54 and appurtenances thereof, as shown in Fig. VIII, is detached from its shafts 55 and 56 by turning said form backward to unscrew its stud 53 from the shaft 55 while said form remains supported by its connection with the shaft 56, and then unscrewing said shaft 56 from the stud I29 of the hub I30 of the ring I32. Thereupon, said mold 53 carrying the shell 54 may be lifted out of its compartment in the tank 36 and laid upon the rollers I34 and I35 in the top of the truck I36 shown in Fig. II to facilitate its further manipulation. 'I'hereupon, the screws H9, tap bolts H6, washers III, screws I26, tap bolts I23, and washers I25 are removed from the position shown in Fig. VIII so as to permit said shell to be withdrawn from said mold 53 by relative longitudinal movement of the shell and mold on said rollers of the truck Thereupon, the container body shell 54 is laid upon the rollers I31 at the top of the truck I30 shown in Fig. III, to facilitate its further manipulation. Removable plugs I40 are then inserted in each of the conduit fittings H5 and I20, as shown in Fig. IX. The axial shaft I which has the screw threaded collar I42 fixed thereon, conveniently by the pin I43, is then screwed into the fitting H3, as shown in Fig. IX. The screw threaded conduit fitting I5 shown on the head I5 of said container 54 in Figs. IX and X is primarily held upon the mold form 14 upon which said head I5 is deposited, by retaining means such as above described with reference to the conduit fittings H5 and I20, and which means are indicated in Fig. VII at I28.

One of the heads 15 which has been formed upon a mold I4, as above described, and is of the configuration shown in Fig. IX, except that it has not the circumferential recess I45 shown in Fig. IX, is machined, conveniently in an ordinary lathe, to form said recess I45 so that said head I5 may be push fitted into said shell 54, as shown in Fig. IX. Before pushing said head I5 into the position shown in Fig. IX, the loose screw threaded ring I46 is screwed into the axial conduit fitting I5 of said head 15 so as to afford a slide bearing on said axial shaft MI. The insulating washer I 41, metal collar I48, insulating collar I49, and insulating washer I50 are then fitted over said shaft MI in the position shown in Fig. IX and the shell 54, head 15, and their connecting shaft I4I lifted into one of the compartments of the tank 36, and the shaft 56 of that compartment screwed upon the threaded end I4I of the shaft Hi to the position shown at the right in Fig. IX. Thereupon, the opposite screw threaded end I4I" of said shaft I4I may be screwed into the socket of the shaft in said compartment by turning said shell and shaft MI by manual rotation of the shaft 56 shown in Fig. IX until the conduit fitting H3 is brought into liquid-tight contact with the insulating washer H0 appurtenant to said shaft 55.

Thereupon, by shifting the lever 65 local to the compartment in the tank 36 then containing the structure shown in Fig. IX, the shaft 55 is operated to rotate said structure in the electrolyte and the operation of electrodeposition resumed and continued until there is added to the shell 54, shown in full lines in'Fig. IX, an additional thickness of copper, indicatedby the dot and dash lines 54" in Fig. IX, to form the completed container shown in Fig. X with its body shell 54, head 15, and conduit fittings 15', H3, H5, and I all in unitary relation.

Thereupon, the operator stops the rotation of the structure shown in Fig. IX by shifting the local clutch lever 65, and removes the structure shown in Fig. IX, from the tank 36, by reversing the operations above described by which it was assembled and inserted in said tank.

The apparatus above described may be used for continuous commercial production of containers such as shown in Fig. X, at the rate of six every twenty-four hours. Fig. I shows the apparatus in condition to begin such operation. There are twice as many mold forms 14 as there are mold forms 53, for the reason that the heads I5, deposited on said molds 14, are twice as thick as the container shell 54 and its convex end 54' initially deposited on the forms 53. The operation is begun by rotating but six of the forms 14 until the electrodeposlts thereon are half as thick as desired. 'I'hereupon, rotation of the other six forms 14 is begun simultaneously with the rotation of the six mold forms 53 in the tank 36. Consequently, when the electrodeposit on the forms 53 is half the desired final thickness, to wit, the thickness shown in full lines in Fig. VIII; and the shells 54 are ready for removal from the six mold forms 53, the first six heads 15 are of the desired final thickness upon the first six molds I4 and are ready for removal and insertion in the shells 54, as above described, preparatory to the final deposit thereon to make complete containers such as shown in Fig. X. Thereupon, the six mold forms 53 are replaced in the tank 36 with conduit fittings" I I3, H5, and I20 secured thereon as in Fig. VIII, but, of course, without the shells 54 shown inthat figure, and rotation of the six driving shafts 55 in the tank 36 resumed with the initiation of rotation of the six shafts 55 in the tank 35 by which the shells 54 with heads therein, as shown in Fig. IX, are rotated during the deposition of the final thickness of the shell54, 54' thereon, as indicated in dash and dot lines in Fig. IX. By the time that such final deposits are made in the tank 36', the initial deposits 54, 54' are made in the tank-36 upon the mold forms 53, and the second series of six heads 15 are com-v pleted in the tank 13 and ready for assemblage with the second set of shells 54, 54' when the latter are removed from the tank 36, as above described. In such manner, the apparatus shown may be continuously operated to produce containers such as shown in Fig. X, which weigh forty-eight pounds each, are one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness at their cylindrical portions, and are designed to withstand a pressure of eighty-five pounds per square inch without distortion; that pressure being considerably in excess of the pressure to which they are normally subjected when used as "range boilers. However, the containerssuch as shown in Fig. X may be made thicker or thinner, in accordance with the length of time the several steps of electrodeposition above contemplated are continued.

The entire electric circuit including the positive conductor 94 and negative conductor 95 may, of course, be energized or de-energized by respectively starting and stopping the electric generator 96, by starting and stopping the electric motor 91, by operation of the switch controlling means 97'. However, each individual anode may be individually and separately included or excluded with respect to said circuit by cbnnecting or disconnecting its branch supply conductor with respect to the local bus bar. Of course, separate switch means may be provided for each of said branch conductors but I have found it less trouble and expense to directly connect and disconnect the conductors as aforesaid.

The container product, shown in Fig. X, is advantageous, first, in that its wall is made of homogeneous metal of uniform minimum thickness adapted to withstand predetermined internal pressure, without waste of metal, and, second, in that it is of substantially the same diameter at each end, so that a number of them may be stably stacked, in minimum space, with their axes parallel. However, methods and apparatus in accordance with my invention may be employed to produce containers of different specific construction.

Although I have shown in Figs. VIII and X, the conduit fittings H3, H5, and I20 projecting outwardly from the surface of the shell 54, the polishing of the shell may be more conveniently eifected if said fittings are extended inwardly from the outer surface of the shell so that there are no projections from that surface to interfere with the polishing means.

Therefore, although I have herein set forth what I believe to be a preferable method and means for making seamless metallic containers by electrodeposition in accordance with my invention, I do not desire to limit myself to the specific details of said method or apparatus, or said product thereof, as itls obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invenmold; a second axial screw shaft having a socket engaging said hub screw; a tank for holding an electrolyte; horizontal axially alined journal bearings, at opposite sides of said tank, respectively supporting said two shafts; means, including a driving gear on said driving shaft, for turning and preventing axial movement of that shaft; the other shaft being axially movable, for permitting its release and removal of said mold from said tank; basket means for holding scrap copper in said tank and electrolyte; and electric circuit means, in which said mold is a cathode and said electrolyte and scrap copper anodes; whereby a self-sustaining shell having an open end and a closed end, with said conduit fitting fixed in the latter, is electrodeposited on the polished surface of said mold and removable with the latter from said tank.

2. Means for the electrolytic formation of fluid pressure containers, including the combination with a tank for an electrolyte; of horizontal axially alined journal bearings at opposite sides of said tank; an axial screw driving shaft mounted in the bearing at one side of said tank; a worm driving gear on said driving shaft, for turning and preventing axial movement of that shaft; a second axial screw shaft journaled in the bearing at the opposite side of said tank and free to move axially in its bearing in axial alinement with said driving shaft; a body for receiving electrodeposition from said electrolyte, having axial screw connections at opposite ends thereof, respectively fitted for connection with said driving shaft and said second shaft; a worm in mesh with said form gearya worm shaft extendingaxially through said worm but rotatable independently thereof; clutch means carried by said worm shaft, for alternately engaging and disengaging said shaft in driving relation with said worm; means for rotating said worm shaft during,

electrodeposition in said tank, including an electric motor, and switch means for energizing and controlling said motor; and electric circuit means, in which said electrolyte and metallic copper are anodes and said body to receive the electrodeposit is a cathode.

3. Means for the electrolytic formation of fluid pressure containers, including the combination with a tank for electrolyte; of horizontal axially alined journal bearings at opposite sides of, said tank; an axial screw driving shaft mounted in the bearing at one side of said tank; a worm driving gear on said driving shaft, for turning and preventing axial movement of that shaft; a.

second axial screw shaft journaled in the bearing wat the opposite side of said tank and free to move axially in its bearing in axial alinement with said driving shaft; a body for-receiving electrodeposition from said electrolyte, having axial screw connections at opposite ends thereof, respectively fitted for connection with said driving shaft and said second shaft; a worm in mesh with said worm gear; a worm shaft extending axially through said worm but rotatable independently thereof; clutch means carried by said worm shaft, for alternately engaging and disengaging said shaft in driving relation with said worm; means for rotating said worm shaft during electrodeposition in said tank, including an electric motor, and switch means for energizing and controlling said motor; and electric circuit means, in which said electrolyte and metallic copper are anodes and said body to receive the electrodeposit is a cathode; and means for energizing said circuit at 270 amperes at between 2% and 3 volts.

4. Means for the electrolytic formation of fluid pressure containers, including the combination with a tank for an electrolyte; of horizontal axially alined journal bearings at opposite sides of said tank; an axial screw driving shaft mounted in the bearing at one side of said tank; a worm driving gear on said driving shaft, for turning and preventing axial movement of that shaft; a second axial screw shaft journaled in the bearing atthe opposite side of said tank and free to move axially in its bearing in axial alinement with said driving shaft; a body for receiving electrodeposition from said electrolyte, having axial screwconnections at opposite ends thereof, respectively fitted for connection with said driving shaft and said second shaft; a worm in mesh with said worm gear; a worm shaft extending axially through said worm but rotatable independently thereof; clutch means carried by said worm shaft, for alternately engaging and disengaging said shaft in driving relation with said worm; means for rotating said worm shaft during electrodeposition in said tank,including an electric motor, and switch means for energizing and controlling said motor; and electric circuit means, in which said electrolyte and metallic copper are anodes and said body to receive the electrodeposit is a cathode; and means for energizing said circuit at 270 amperes at between 2 and 3 volts; whereby said body may be continuously rotated in said electrolyte during such energization of the latter, and at a surface speed of approximately one foot in five seconds.

5. Means for the electrolytic formation of. a fluid pressure container, including a tank containing electrolyte in which electrodeposition is effected; a driving shaft extending horizontally through a side wall of said tank, and having a. screw thread at its end within said tank; a body upon which the electrodeposition is effected, having a screw threaded connection for detachable engagement with said shaft end; a. screw threaded conduit fitting carried and held on said body by said shaft; means for holding another conduit fitting on said body in spaced relation with said first fitting, including a screw threaded hole in said body, a tap bolt fitted in said hole, and carrying a screw threaded disk engaged in the thread of said fitting, an insulating member at the outer end of said second fitting, and a. screw extending through said insulating member in axial alinement with and engaged in said tap bolt; whereby the electrolyte is excluded from the interior of each of said fittings, and said fittings are united with the deposit made on said body.

AYLmR O. ROSS. 

